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Mother, daughter seek to reopen House on the Hill BY ANDREW LARSON REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

WATERBURY -- The bed and breakfast known as House on the Hill, which has been on the market since 2008 and is now empty, may soon be revived.

Several interested buyers toured the home last week, and at least two are interested in reopening the 125-year-old Victorian at 92 Woodlawn Terrace as a bed and breakfast.

Marianne Vandenburgh, who now lives in Sherman, owned House on the Hill for 33 years. When she put the house on the market, she told the Republican-American she hoped it would remain a bed and breakfast or become a single-family residence for a big family.

Vandenburgh said she couldn't be happier that her hopes for House on the Hill may be fulfilled.

"A number of parties have come forward who are all interested in the historic aspects of it," Vandenburgh said. "And two separate parties are interested in purchasing and continuing it as a bed and breakfast, which I am elated about."

One of the interested buyers is Gina Vecchitto. She and her mother would like to buy the house and keep it as a bed and breakfast.

Vecchitto, who grew up in Waterbury and recently returned after serving in the Air Force, is a graduate of Parsons School for Design. Her mother previously worked as a yacht chef.

They would live in the house and be the innkeepers.

After seeing the property last week, Vecchitto said she was impressed at how well the home's original features have been preserved. She was especially drawn to the inscriptions on the walls, which tell stories.

She said the house needs some work after being empty for years, including painting and refinishing the floors, but she wants to make as few changes as possible.

"It's got a lot of character, and we want to keep that," Vecchitto said.

She believes a bed and breakfast is still a viable use for the property.

"There's nothing else like this around here," Vecchitto said. "They're all chain hotels, and there's nothing really intimate or unique about them."

Vecchitto has met with the Hillside and Overlook neighborhood associations, which were supportive. She has also talked to Ron Pugliese, the city's economic development coordinator.

The only sticking point is money. She is seeking grants to help finance the sale. Pugliese said he believes once her business plan is complete, financing opportunities, including grants, will be available.

Vandenburgh knows she can't control what future owners do with the house, but she hopes they will be as meticulous as she was about preserving and maintaining it.

"That's my hope because I spent my whole time there restoring and maintaining that house and hoping it would always be maintained in its original condition," she said.

Vandenburgh is the third person to own the house.

Until 1980, it was owned by the Bergin family. The Bergins, two of whom served as mayors of Waterbury, were the second family to own it. It was built and occupied for many years by the Camp family, which founded Platt Bros.

The House on the Hill property, located in the Historic Hillside District, was recently proposed for a day care center. Neighbors adamantly opposed the idea of a day care in a historic home that is considered a Waterbury landmark.

Also, they feared changes to the property to meet fire code regulations, such as widening the driveway, would damage its character.

There were also concerns about increased traffic at the intersection of Woodlawn Terrace and Pine Street, near Driggs Elementary School.

The Zoning Commission on Feb. 27 denied the applicant's request for a permit that would allow the day care to open.

Vandenburgh said she is pleased at the recent surge of interest in the House on the Hill property, and looks forward to the day that it is once again occupied.

"That house is never happier than when it's full of people," Vandenburgh said.

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HaHa wrote on Mar 12, 2013 4:57 PM:

" I have a better idea. Take your money and throw it in a hot fireplace. Your investment will last longer and it will be more fun. "

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